The Love Your Tree Campaign...

Love Your Tree (LYT) is a creative arts campaign designed to help students develop positive body image, improved self-esteem and enhanced media literacy skills, all of which can serve as protective factors against the development of eating disorders. We invite YOU to join a creative network of schools and organizations involved in the Love Your Tree Campaign.

The Roots...

Writer and activist Eve Ensler used the image of a tree in her one-woman play, The Good Body, to challenge society’s narrow definition of beauty and to invite an appreciation for the natural diversity of body shapes and sizes. Julia Andersen, CED Art Therapist, was inspired to action by Ensler’s message of body acceptance and her use of the tree metaphor. In 2006, Andersen developed the Love Your Tree program which utilizes art as an avenue to impart media literacy skills, positive body image and messages of self-acceptance to youth. Over the course of a decade, the program has introduced thousands of individuals of all ages to the Love Your Tree themes during workshops and community exhibits as well as at educational and professional conferences.

“Eve, look at that tree? Do you see that tree? Now, look at that tree (pointing to another one). Do you like that tree? Do you hate that tree ’cause it doesn’t look like that tree? Do you say that tree isn’t pretty cause it doesn’t look like that tree? We’re all trees. You’re a tree. I’m a tree. You’ve got to love your body, Eve. You’ve got to love your tree.” (excerpt from The Good Body, 2004 by Eve Ensler).

The Branches...

Participating schools and dedicated educators have hosted Love Your Tree workshops and integrated the poster-making process into their curriculums. Art teachers, counselors and youth leaders have helped guide students in the completion of countless posters during health classes, art classes, community events and after-school programs. Over the years, colleges and universities have also invited Love Your Tree onto their campuses and developed independent exhibits of their students’ art. Organizations as far away as Australia have implemented the Love Your Tree program with students, patients and community members.

The Leaves...

The Love Your Tree campaign utilizes research regarding eating disorder prevention, body image, media literacy and cognitive dissonance which demonstrates that individuals who spend time creating positive body image messages and promoting them to others, will be more likely to internalize and accept the same positive messages about themselves.

Since the campaign began over 10 years ago, over 2,700 Love Your Tree posters have been submitted by students from across the state of Maryland and far beyond. This unique educational approach offers individuals a rare opportunity to explore their own ideas about body diversity and to challenge the narrow ideals of beauty set forth by the media. Through the creation of art, these individual messages have the potential to be carried to others, to inspire and heal, and to spark important conversations about body image and the diversity of beauty.

Free Weekly Support Group

Join us each week from 7:00 to 8:30 PM for a recovery-focused support group open to anyone struggling with any type of eating disorder as well as friends, family and support people. This group is FREE and facilitated by a licensed clinician.

#LetsCheckIn VIDEOS

These four video vignettes provide examples of real-life interactions, negative self-talk and disordered eating behaviors that indicate it might be time to check in more closely with a friend or family member.

Free Weekly Support Group

Join us each week from 7:00 to 8:30 PM for a recovery-focused support group open to anyone struggling with any type of eating disorder as well as friends, family and support people. This group is FREE and facilitated by a licensed clinician.